US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin on Thursday said that a&nbsp;US Coastguard ship will be deployed to Papua New Guinea as Washington aims to increase its military footprint in the region amid growing competition for influence with China.

"A US Coastguard cutter will be here in August," said Austin, as he became the first Pentagon boss to visit Papua New Guinea.

The move capitalises on the defence pact which was recently signed between the two countries which offers greater military access to strategically important regions of the South Pacific to the United States.&nbsp;

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Washington is willing to show how increased US security cooperation can benefit the regional partners and reduce local fears about Papua New Guinea getting dragged into a battle between US and China for influence in the region.

Papua New Guinea, which lies between Taiwan and US ally Australia, is the most populous and largest state in Melanesia, an area which was important in deciding the final result of World War II in the Pacific.

<h2>Papua New Guinea to benefit from coastguard deployment: Austin</h2>

Austin emphasised that Papua New Guinea will benefit from the coastguard deployment as it will stop the looting of its thinly protected maritime resources, and will also put a halt on activities like illegal fishing and trafficking.

As per a landmark US-Papua New Guinea security pact which was signed earlier this year, the United States will be able to operate and develop the facilities across the country.

With the agreement of Papua New Guinea, troops and vessels will be stationed by the US military at six key ports and airports, including&nbsp;facilities in the capital Port Moresby and Lombrum Naval Base on Manus Island.

Washington will have "unimpeded access" to the sites to "pre-position equipment, supplies and materiel" and have "exclusive use" of some zones where development and "construction activities" will be carried out, as per the text.

WATCH |&nbsp;US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin India visit: US-India defence cooperation in focus

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In the past, Lombrum has been used as a garrison for Japanese, Australian, British, German, and US troops. It was one of the largest bases of the United States in the Pacific during World War II, with 200 ships at anchor, which include six battleships and 20 aircraft carriers which were used to recapture the Philippines from Japan.&nbsp;

<h2>Independence of nation won't be eroded, says Austin</h2>

However, Austin tried to address the concerns that the fiercely guarded independence of the South Pacific nation would not be eroded by the pact.&nbsp;

"I just want to be clear that we're not seeking permanent basing in PNG. This is an opportunity to expand upon a long-standing relationship," Austin said to his hosts.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Prime Minister James Marape said that the pact would help modernise the infrastructure of Papua New Guinea and strengthen its security.

"They have never tampered with our sovereignty and our autonomy and our independence. It is not them coming in. We invited them in... to build up our defence to protect our own borders, including stopping the theft of fish from our seas. We're doing this for the betterment of our country," he said.&nbsp;

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US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin on Thursday said that a US Coastguard ship will be deployed to Papua New Guinea as Washington aims to increase its military footprint in the region amid growing competition for influence with China.

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin on Thursday said that a US Coastguard ship will be deployed to Papua New Guinea as Washington aims to increase its military footprint in the region amid growing competition for influence with China. "A US Coastguard cutter will be here in August," said Austin, as he became the first Pentagon boss to visit Papua New Guinea. The move capitalises on the defence pact which was recently signed between the two countries which offers greater military access to strategically important regions of the South Pacific to the United States. ALSO READ | US initiates sharing evidence of Russian war crimes with Hague court Washington is willing to show how increased US security cooperation can benefit the regional partners and reduce local fears about Papua New Guinea getting dragged into a battle between US and China for influence in the region. Papua New Guinea, which lies between Taiwan and US ally Australia, is the most populous and largest state in Melanesia, an area which was important in deciding the final result of World War II in the Pacific. Papua New Guinea to benefit from coastguard deployment: Austin Austin emphasised that Papua New Guinea will benefit from the coastguard deployment as it will stop the looting of its thinly protected maritime resources, and will also put a halt on activities like illegal fishing and trafficking. As per a landmark US-Papua New Guinea security pact which was signed earlier this year, the United States will be able to operate and develop the facilities across the country. With the agreement of Papua New Guinea, troops and vessels will be stationed by the US military at six key ports and airports, including facilities in the capital Port Moresby and Lombrum Naval Base on Manus Island. Washington will have "unimpeded access" to the sites to "pre-position equipment, supplies and materiel" and have "exclusive use" of some zones where development and "construction activities" will be carried out, as per the text. WATCH | US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin India visit: US-India defence cooperation in focus In the past, Lombrum has been used as a garrison for Japanese, Australian, British, German, and US troops. It was one of the largest bases of the United States in the Pacific during World War II, with 200 ships at anchor, which include six battleships and 20 aircraft carriers which were used to recapture the Philippines from Japan. Independence of nation won't be eroded, says Austin However, Austin tried to address the concerns that the fiercely guarded independence of the South Pacific nation would not be eroded by the pact. "I just want to be clear that we're not seeking permanent basing in PNG. This is an opportunity to expand upon a long-standing relationship," Austin said to his hosts. Meanwhile, Prime Minister James Marape said that the pact would help modernise the infrastructure of Papua New Guinea and strengthen its security. "They have never tampered with our sovereignty and our autonomy and our independence. It is not them coming in. We invited them in... to build up our defence to protect our own borders, including stopping the theft of fish from our seas. We're doing this for the betterment of our country," he said. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

US announces deployment of Coastguard ship to Papua New Guinea

Japan issued a new protest to Beijing today after Chinese coastguard ships and about 230 fishing vessels sailed close to what Tokyo considers its territorial waters around disputed islets in the East China Sea, Japan&#39;s foreign ministry said. 
 
The latest incident comes amid heightened tensions in Asia, less than a month after an arbitration court in the Hague invalidated China&#39;s sweeping claims in the disputed South China Sea, in a case brought by the Philippines. 
 
China has refused to recognise the ruling. Japan called on China to adhere to the verdict, which it said was binding, prompting warnings from Beijing to Tokyo not to interfere. 
 
Three of the six Chinese coastguard ships that were in the so-called contiguous waters today appeared to be armed, Japan&#39;s coast guard said.&nbsp;Yesterday, a Japanese foreign ministry official said Chinese coastguard ships and fishing vessels entered what Tokyo considers its territorial waters around the islets. 
 
Beijing claims the uninhabited, Tokyo-controlled East China Sea islands, called the Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, and occasionally sends its coastguard vessels near them.&nbsp;A senior Japanese foreign ministry official today issued a protest to a Chinese embassy official in Tokyo, calling on the coastguard ships to leave the area immediately and condemning the action as a unilateral escalation of tensions, the ministry said. 
 
Japanese vice foreign minister Shinsuke Sugiyama yesterday summoned China&#39;s ambassador to Japan, Cheng Yonghua, to lodge a strong protest, the ministry said.&nbsp;Chinese officials could not immediately be reached for comment on Saturday. 
 
China on Friday accused Japan&#39;s new defence minister, Tomomi Inada, of recklessly misrepresenting history after she declined to say whether Japanese troops massacred civilians in China during World War II. 
 
Ties between China and Japan, the world&#39;s second- and third-largest economies, have been plagued by the territorial row, the legacy of Japans&#39; wartime occupation of parts of China and regional rivalry. 
 
(Reuters)

Three of the six Chinese coastguard ships that were in the so-called contiguous waters appeared to be armed, Japan's coast guard said

Japan issued a new protest to Beijing today after Chinese coastguard ships and about 230 fishing vessels sailed close to what Tokyo considers its territorial waters around disputed islets in the East China Sea, Japan's foreign ministry said. The latest incident comes amid heightened tensions in Asia, less than a month after an arbitration court in the Hague invalidated China's sweeping claims in the disputed South China Sea, in a case brought by the Philippines. China has refused to recognise the ruling. Japan called on China to adhere to the verdict, which it said was binding, prompting warnings from Beijing to Tokyo not to interfere. Three of the six Chinese coastguard ships that were in the so-called contiguous waters today appeared to be armed, Japan's coast guard said. Yesterday, a Japanese foreign ministry official said Chinese coastguard ships and fishing vessels entered what Tokyo considers its territorial waters around the islets. Beijing claims the uninhabited, Tokyo-controlled East China Sea islands, called the Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, and occasionally sends its coastguard vessels near them. A senior Japanese foreign ministry official today issued a protest to a Chinese embassy official in Tokyo, calling on the coastguard ships to leave the area immediately and condemning the action as a unilateral escalation of tensions, the ministry said. Japanese vice foreign minister Shinsuke Sugiyama yesterday summoned China's ambassador to Japan, Cheng Yonghua, to lodge a strong protest, the ministry said. Chinese officials could not immediately be reached for comment on Saturday. China on Friday accused Japan's new defence minister, Tomomi Inada, of recklessly misrepresenting history after she declined to say whether Japanese troops massacred civilians in China during World War II. Ties between China and Japan, the world's second- and third-largest economies, have been plagued by the territorial row, the legacy of Japans' wartime occupation of parts of China and regional rivalry. (Reuters)

Japan protests after China coastguard, fishing vessels sail near disputed islets

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